James Horsman Appointed VP/MD, Jennifer Thorn Joins Stowe Mountain Lodge

Destination Hotels & Resorts Recreates Successful Team that Positioned Boston's Award-Winning NINE Z

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

STOWE, VT, September 12, 2006. Destination Hotels & Resorts announces the appointment of James Horsman as vice president/managing director, and Jennifer Thorn as director of sales and marketing, for Stowe Mountain Lodge. The 139-room luxury lodge is currently being developed at the base of Vermont's highest peak, Mt. Mansfield, and in the heart of the new Spruce Peak at Stowe alpine village. As the newest luxury mountain resort to open in the northeast in more than 50 years, this four-season lodge is scheduled to open in fall 2007.

With more than 25 years of luxury hospitality experience, Horsman returns to the state where he grew up to make the new property come to life. A Vermont native, Horsman previously was the general manager at the award-winning NINE ZERO hotel in Boston, formerly part of the Destination collection. Prior to NINE ZERO, he spent 12 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in such diverse locations as Dubai, Philadelphia and Marina del Rey. He brings to Stowe Mountain Lodge the unique ability to integrate a precision typically associated with Far Eastern properties, a sophistication inspired by the finest European hotels and the relaxed warmth that is distinctly New England.

"While it has been exciting to travel the globe and see what the world has to offer, it's nice to be back home," said Horsman. "I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share with my family the legacy of Vermont that I enjoyed in my youth."

Jennifer Thorn joins the Stowe Mountain Lodge team as director of sales and marketing, a position she previously held at NINE ZERO hotel where she worked alongside Horsman at the award-winning property for two years. Thorn's tenure in the Boston area also includes leading productive, results-oriented teams at the Hyatt Regency, Swissotel, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as well as the Four Seasons Hotel. Her background with some of Boston's most prestigious branded hotels provided her with the foundation to launch and position successful independent properties.

"For many years, Stowe was the grande dame of eastern ski resorts," said Horsman. "Jen and I look forward to creating the product and building the team behind the most high-end and luxurious new resort in all of New England."

Truly an award-winning team, during Horsman and Thorn's tenure at NINE ZERO, the hotel was consistently listed among the top hotels in the world by domestic and international publications including the "Gold List: World's Best Places to Stay 2004-2006" by Cond'e Nast Traveler and "Top 101 Hotels in the World for 2005" by Tatler (UK) Travel Guide.

Thorn already is building her sales and marketing team at Stowe Mountain Lodge with the addition of Lorin Seidman as director of public relations and Fawn Heyer, senior sales manager. Prior to joining the Stowe Mountain Lodge team, Seidman worked as an account manager at Kortenhaus Communications in Boston where she represented several of the city's most high-profile hotels and restaurants including NINE ZERO. Previously, Seidman was the public relations manager for The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park.

Heyer also joins the Stowe team from NINE ZERO hotel where she was the transient sales manager for the property. Heyer's background also includes catering and conference services for The Ritz-Carlton, Boston coordinating meetings and special events for corporate and social clients.